Galen Rupp and Jordan Hasay Lead American Contenders at Chicago Marathon

Joan Benoit Samuelson is also going for an age group world record on October 8.

The 2017 Chicago Marathon on October 8 will feature a few accomplished American athletes and some long-awaited debuts at 26.2 miles, officials announced Thursday.

Galen Rupp, who won his first marathon at the 2016 Olympic Trials and earned the bronze medal in the event in Rio, is planning to run the historically fast course. Joining him in Chicago is his Oregon Project teammate Jordan Hasay, who placed third at the 2017 Boston Marathon in 2:23:00, setting the record for fastest American women’s debut at the distance.

Joan Benoit Samuelson, 60, who earned the women’s first Olympic gold medal in the marathon in 1984, is going for a sub-3-hour marathon, which would amount to a new world record in her age category.

Going for time: While Rupp’s proven his prowess at 26.2 miles in his first three marathons by making the podium in all of them, he hasn’t necessarily gone for a fast time yet because they’ve all been tactical events. Historically, Chicago trends toward the speedier side of racing, though it will depend on who’s there to challenge him from the international field, which will likely be announced next month.

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NOAH DRODDY
Age: 27Marathon best: Has not finished one yet (started the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials but dropped out)

More than his looks: Droddy first captured the attention of the running community when he toed the line in the 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. The long hair, mustache, and sunglasses were hard to miss, but he was otherwise a bit of a mystery coming out of a NCAA DIII program. That was a year ago, however, and now more attention is being paid to his running performance, most notably the 1:01:48 half marathon best he set in March at the NYC Half, which indicates he could excel at 26.2 miles.

Moving up: It’s a debut that many fans have been waiting for, and Derrick is coming home to his native Illinois to attempt the 26.2-mile distance. A three-time U.S. cross country champion who trains with the Bowerman Track Club, he made his half marathon debut in March in New York, where he ran 1:01:12. He also was a member of the team of pacesetters for the Nike Breaking2 Project, helping Eliud Kipchoge clock the fastest marathon in history (2:00:25).

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ANDREW BUMBALOUGHAge: 30Marathon best: 2:13:58, 2017 Tokyo MarathonSecond try: At his first marathon in Tokyo, Bumbalough said his only goal was to finish in a controlled manner. Although he slowed in the second half, he was pleased to be back from injury. Now, he’s ready to improve upon his debut, and he’ll have the advantage of having Derrick, a training partner, on the starting line with him. He, too, helped Kipchoge in his historic quest to break two hours in the Nike experiment.

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LUKE PUSKEDRAAge: 27Marathon best: 2:10:24, 2015 Chicago MarathonFond memories:Puskedra should have some positive associations with the Chicago course. It’s where he had the breakthrough of his career with a five-minute personal best in 2015 and proved he had a shot at making the 2016 Olympic team. He came up one spot shy of that ultimate dream, placing fourth at the U.S. trials. Soon after, while his baby daughter was treated for cancer, his running temporarily was not high on his priority list. Most recently he finished ninth at the 2017 Boston Marathon in 2:14:45.

Better luck: A 2012 Olympian for Mexico in the 10,000 meters, Estrada is now a U.S. citizen still looking for a smashing performance in the marathon. In his first 26.2 miles at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, he dropped out. In his second try at the 2016 Chicago Marathon, he fell at the 10K mark and ran another 20 miles on a swollen ankle, finishing in 2:13:56. With a 1:00:51 half marathon best, his potential is there if it all comes together on the right day.

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SAM CHELANGAAge: 32Marathon best: Has not finished one yet. Going for the finish:Chelanga also tried his first 26.2 miles at the U.S. Olympic Trials and did not finish. This will be his next attempt at the marathon. A two-time NCAA champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, he became a U.S. citizen in 2015. Last year he won the U.S. 10 Mile Championships and has a half marathon PR of 1:01:04.

Great American hope: When she broke the record for the fastest American debut by a woman, she smashed it by nearly three minutes. Her mom had recently died, and Hasay said she ran that race with a lot of emotion. But in the month before that first 26.2-mile race she also raced 1:07:55 in the half marathon, which is the third-fastest time ever by an American woman. What will she do on the flat, fast streets of Chicago? It will be fun to watch.

ALIA GRAYAge: 28Marathon best: 2:34:00, 2016 Chicago MarathonLooking for a breakthrough: In Chicago last year, Gray wanted to break 2:30. She finished in 2:34:00, which was her best and good for 10th place. Coached by Joe Vigil, Gray is returning and hoping to build on her momentum.

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BECKY WADE
Age: 28Marathon Best: 2:30:41, 2013 California International MarathonBack to it: After a brief stint in the steeplechase on the track last year during the U.S. Olympic Trials, Wade made her way back to the roads in January at the Houston Marathon, placing third in 2:35:57.

JOAN BENOIT SAMUELSONAge: 60Marathon best: 2:21:21, 1985 Chicago MarathonMaking more history: She’s already solidified her place among the most accomplished distance runners in history, but Samuelson still comes at the marathon with as much drive as she did in 1984. This time she’s eyeing the age-group world record, with the goal of being the first woman over 60 to break three hours in the marathon.

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